Card punching machine



May 7, 1946. K. J. BRAUN 2,399,623

CARD PUNGHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 11211! J. Bram,

H TTORNE Y May 7, 1946.

K. J. BRAUN CARD PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. Karl J. Brazm QM XM HTTORNE Y May 7, 1946. K J. BRAUN CARD PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet S IN VEN TOR. Kan! J. Brawn,

HTTORNE Y y 7, 1946- K. J. BRAUN 2,399,623

CARD PUNGHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. [fall J. Bram,

HTTORNEY CARD PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 u IN VEN TOR. Karl J. Brawl,

H T TOR/YE Y May 7,1946. K J. BRAUN CARD PUNCHING MACHINE v 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 20, 1944 INVENTOR. Han! J. flrazm,

' HTTORNEY Patented May 7, 1946 can!) PUNCHING MACHINE Karl J. Braun, Merrick,--N. Y., assignor to Control Instrument Company, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 20, 1944, Serial No. 569,061 50 Claims. (Cl. 164- -112) This invention relates to improvements in statistical card punching machines and has particular reference to machines of the kind wherein the cards are punched column by column.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved punching machine of the portable type which is practical and positive in operation, and wherein a. plurality of punches are controlled from a keyboard to perforate a card supported on a carriage having step-by-step movements relative to said punches, which movements are under the control of an escapement that is oper-.-

ated upon each actuation of a key. v

Another object is to so control the punching of a card that in the interval between the com-' pletion of the punching operation in any column and the restoration of a punch to normal, all of the actuator elements for said punches are similarly disabled to thereby prevent a punching operation of any punch during said interval.

A further object is to mechanically operate the carriage escapement in such manner that upon completion of the concurrent operative strokes of a key and itspunch, the latter will start its return stroke and, through such movement, control the escapement so that -'the carriage will be more readily andquickly advanced independently of the return stroke of said key.

A still further object is to provide the machine with an improved form of skip mechanism by means of which the card carriage is made to move over a field of a card and automatically stop at a predetermined point without the accomplishment of a punching operation. According to this object, the carriage escapement is latched in. a release position by the rotative movement of a shaft until said carriage has moved to a predeterminecl point, whereupon said shaft is moved linearly to release the latching means and thereby permit restoration of the escapement to hold said carriage at said point.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea; but it is to be expressly understood that said drawings are employed merely for the purpose of facilitating the description of the invention as a whole and not to define the limits thereof. reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In the drawings-- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a punching machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

of the carriage and mounted'between the plates Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of F18. 1.

Fi 3 is a similar section on the line Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 1-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a similar section on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating an intermediate position of an operated punch actuator in its relation to other inactive actuators and to a support therefor. I

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the position of the operated actuator after leaving the position of Fig. 6 and during its return or secondary movement to normal position, which movement is utilized to render inoperative the actuator support so that all actuators will be disabled while said return movement is in. progress.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary isometric view showing the release mechanism for the carriage escapement in its operated position, and

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the skip mechanism which controls the limited movement .of the card carriage over a predetermined field of a card, said release and skip mechanisms having certain elements in common which are shown in both of said figures and other elements which are omitted from one or the other figures for. purposes of clarity in illustration. I

In the preferred form illustrated, the invention is shown as comprising a base it supporting, on

its rear portion, the vertically disposed and forwardly inclined end members i i which are joined by the horizontally extending front and rear supports i2 and 13. These supports carry the spaced, stationary bed plates iteach of which is interposed the skip bar 2i having slots or openings 22 therein to be utilized in the skipping operation, later to be described. Adjacent each end is and 20 thereof are the two upper guide rollers 23 engaging the upper edge of the rail fli, while an intermediate depending portion 24 of said front plate l9 has journaled thereon the lower guide roller 25 which travels along the lower edge of said rail I! as the carriage is moved back and forth. At opposite ends of the carriage IS, the same mounts rearwardly extending studs 26 which support a bar 21, and extending rearwardly from an intermediate point on said bar is another stud 28 which carries the rear guide roller'29 interposed between the lower edge of the support i3 and the rail l8, thus completing the guiding means for said carriage. As best shown in Fig. 4, the bar 21, adjacent one end thereof, carries a rigid finger 30 which extends upwardly through the space between the bed plates l4 and provides a stop for one end of the card I 5 when the latter is placed upon said plates gether with the plate 42, by its retractlle spring 54. During this operation of the escapement. the spring motor is allowed to advance the carriage a distance equal to the space between two adjacent columns of the card l5, as is well under- V stood in the art.

preparatory to a punching operation, and at the opposite end of said bar 21 the same supports a similar finger 3| on which is resiliently mounted a catch 32 for engaging the adjacent end of said card to thus retain the same in proper position for punching.

The drive for the carriage It by which the same is advanced upon each operation of one of the keys of the machine, comprises a spring motor 33 of any conventional type supported upon a plate 34 secured to the rear surface of the front support l2 at 35, and joined to the front rail I! by studs 36. The shaft of said motor carries a pinion 31 which meshes with a rack 38 secured to the carriage 16 by bolts 39 that extend through the front and rack plates l9 and 20, as shown in Fig. 3. Through this arrangement, as the carriage is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, preliminary to a punching operation, the pinion 31 will be driven by the rack 38 to energize the spring of the motor 33 so that it will advance the carriage to the left under the control of an escapement mechanism, after each punching operation has terminated.

The escapenient mechanism, the various controls of which will be hereinafter described, comprises a ratchet 40 journaled for'rotation on the front support l2 and driven by pinion 4| meshing with the carriage rack 28. A pawl plate 42 is carried on the front end of a rocker shaft 43 journaled in the bearing plates 44 extending upwardly from the supports l2 and IS. A block 45 doweled to said shaft 43 is provided with an upward extension 46 which engages a stud 41 on said plate 42 so that when the shaft 43 is rocked this motion will be transmitted'to the.-

position to the plate 42 for a movement relative to said shaft and to the plate 42 when accomplishing the carriage-release or field-skipping operations to be described. However, when the escapement is controlled by the bail 5|, as in punching and spacing operations, the pawl 52 is moved with the plate 42 by engagement of a stud 53 on said plate with the upper portion of .the pawl, and thus the lower extremity of the latter is disengaged from the ratchet 40 following the engagement of the pawl 48 therewith. The pawl 52 is thereafter restored to normal, to-

A punch die 55 is mounted on the supports l2, l3 intermediate the ends thereof and forms a card chamber 56 through which the card 65 moves in one direction when the carriage i6 is initially adjusted for a punching operation, and in the opposite direction as the carriage is advanced during said operation; A plurality of punches 51 are supported in said die 55 and each is provided'with a compression spring 58 which normally urges its punch upwardly and restores it to the normal position thereof after the punch has been depressed to perforate an index point in a column of the card IS, the number of such punches being equal to the number of index points in said column.

- carriage-release and field-skipping operations, as

designated in Fig. 1. Joining the side plates between the plates 6! are two tie rods 64 which provide pivotal supports for a plurality of bell cranks 65, one for each of the keys 63. Each crank 65 is provided at one end with a roller or stud 66 engaging in a yoke 61 formed on the shank 62 of its associated key so that upon depression of the latter the bell crank will be rocked about its pivot 64. The opposite end of each of the bell cranks 65, with the exception of the two associated with the Release and Skip keys, has a slotted connection with the front end of an actuator element 68. These twelve actuators extend rearwardly in transverse relation to the path of travel of the carriage l8 and through a frame-' work consisting of upper and lower plates 69 ator is normally urged rearwardly by a spring 10 connected thereto and to th upper plate 69, and the rear ends of all of the actuators are provided with a common support H upon which they rest in the normal position thereof, shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Said support II is carried by a rock shaft 12 mounted in bearings 13 attached to the rear support l3, and is yieldably. held in its normal supporting position by a coil spring 14 connected to the lower plate 69 and to the upper end of an arm 15 secured on said shaft. The rocking movements of the shaft 12, and consequently of the support H, are limited by contact of the upper and lower portions of the arm 15 with the support l3.

Each actuator 68 has associated therewith a trip member 16 slidably mounted for vertical movement in'the frame plates 69 and provided thereon with a'roller 'l'l normally engaging in a recess 18 formed in the upper edge of its actuator and constituting a cam surface by means of which the trip 16 is forced upwardly when the actuator is pulled forwardly by depression of its key 63. Th upper end of each trip 18 contacts one end scription.

of a rocker arm It individual thereto and pivoted intermediate its ends to one of the brackets ll mounted on the top plate 6!. The other end of said am It has pivotally depending therefrom a plunger 8! slotted to receive a guide rod 02 carried by the bearing plates 44. The lower free end of each plunger ll rests upon the upper end of its associated punch 51 and also upon the escapement bail ll so that as the plunger is depressed by the rocking of the arm .19 it will force I 1 its punch downwardly to perforate the card I! and, at the same time will swing the bail Bl downwardly to rock the shaft 43 and thus acqcomplish the initial operation of the escapement mechanism which involves the rocking of the plate 42 to engage the pawl 49 with a tooth of the ratchet 40. Restoration of the punch is ac? complished by its spring 58 which also restoresthe operating elements for the punch in a man ner which will appear in the course of the de- The same action above described in connection with a numerical key also takes place when the Space key is depressed to advance the carriage l6 one step, but without effecting a punching operation. The actuator 68 shown in Fig. 2 is the one associated with the space key and is operatively connected to the bell crank 65 at the left of said figure and to the trip member When either the space key or any one of the numerical keys has been fully depressed and the punch of the numerical key has reached the extremity of its down stroke, the operated actuator 68 will have been moved forwardly to the dotted line position shownin Fig. 6 in which the lower extremity of the cam surface 86 at the end of the actuator has passed beyond the support]! in the dotted line or normal position thereof'and, consequently, the lower edge of the actuator will no longer be engaged by said support and held in its normal plane thereby. This condition is utilized to accomplish the dual function of first, disabling or rendering inoperative all actuators, including the operated one, until th latter has been restored to its normal rearward position by the full release of the operated key and, secondly, of

I transferring control of the escapement mechanism from said key to the punch spring 58 or the spring 83, as the case may be, whereby the secondary or final escapement operation will, after completion of-punching. take place to advance the carriage it to its next position irrespective of the position of the operated key. By thus disabling all the actuators and removing control of the escapement mechanism from the operated key, complete advancement of the carriage is obtainable before another keyean be depressed to effect a second punching operation because, as will presently appear, depression of said other key before complete restoration of the first key will result only in a forward movement of the actuator of said other key without operation of the trip member I8 associated with said actuator. However, it will b understood that the present construction permits of two or more keys being depressed simultaneously to punch a likenumber pilgrforatlons in the same column of the card, as is of the spring 58 to expand. Consequently. under the influence of the spring expansion, the punch will start its restoring or return stroke and thus reverse the initial movements of the plunger 8|, the rocker arm 19 and the trip member 16. The downward'movement of the latter member whose roller 11 is at this point engaged with the upper edge of the actuator rearwardly of the recess 18, having movedout of said recess upon the forward or primary movement of said actuator, exerts downward pressure upon the actuator to move it about its pivotal connection with the bell crank 65 to the full line position of Fig. 6. This movement takes place even though the operated key is held in its fully depressed position, and results in the cam surface 86 of the actuator forcing the support I I from the dotted .to the full line position oflf'ig. 6. The slight lowering of the upper edge of said support occasioned by this movement and the consequent dropping 'of the other actuators 68 and their trips 76 by their own weight, is sufficient to prevent a full operation of any one of the rocker arms 19 and its punch should another key 63 be depressed at this time because the cam surface 18 will be ineffective to fully raise the associatedtrip l8 and the punch 51 will therefore not be lowered sufficiently to engage the card l5.

Therefore, it will be apparent that all the actuv ators are now disabled for purposes of operating their respective punches and this condition holds until the operated actuator completes its secondary or rearward movement,'which occurs when the key therefor is fully restored.

Before proceeding with the description of the secondary movement of the actuator, it will be noted that as soon as the operated punch starts its restoring movement under the influenceof its spring, the plunger at is raised and thereby removes pressure from the ball 5!. During the initial escapement movement which engaged the pawl as with the ratchet ill and disengaged the pawl 52 therefrom, the springs it and St for the plate 42 and pawl 52, respectively, were tensioned and now, as soon as pressure is relieved from the bail 5! said springs it and M act to reverse the movements of said plate and pawls to permit the ratchet it to turn and, through its pinion ill and rack M, to advance the carriage one step. The bail 5i isthereby restored to normal because of the fact that the stud M (Fig. 5) on the plate d2 turns the block it through its extension it, said block being fixed to the rock shaft 43 of said ball, as previously described. Thus, it is seen that immediately upon full depression of a key lid and even before pressure is removed therefrom to Permit it to restore, the control of the escapement mechanism is shifted from said key to the punch spring. During the initial stage of the secondary action of the escapement mechanism while the pawl 49 is disengaging from its tooth, suificient time elapses for the punch to disengage itself from the perforated card before the ratchet is released to step the carriage. This same operation of the escapement occurs when the Space key is depressed except that, in this instance, the

raising of the plunger 8| associated with said in Fig. '7. until the lower end of the arm 15 contacts the support I3, whereupon the cam surface 86 will ride upwardly on the support II until the lower edge of said surface clears the upper edge of said support. The spring 14 connected to the 1I further to the left, as shown by the position shaft through the angular extension 88 of said ball. A cam member 81 is secured to the bail 08 and as the latter is swung downwardly said cam engages a pin 88 projecting from the escapement pawl 82 to swing the same to its release position and relative to the rock plate I! and against the tension of its return spring 54, Two normally opposed but disengaged latches 88 and I00 are provided for the purpose of retaining the cam 81 and, consequently, the pawl 52 in their operated positions during the movement of the carriage to its full release position. The latch 88 is pivotally mounted on the rod 64 and urged against a stop IOI (Figs. 1 and 3) on the side plate 3| by a coil spring I02, while the latch I00 is loose on the shaft 81 and contacted by the bail 88 so that as the latter is operated the latch I00 i swung forwardly to interengage with the latch 88 and thus hold the ball 88 and cam 81 in their operarm 15 then restores said support to its normal position so as to raise all actuators to their normal planes, and the rearward movement of the operated actuator continues under the influence of its spring 10 until the roller 11 of the associated the support H and the restoration of said support to its normal position occur at the same instant and upon complete restoration of the operated key. Until then, depression of another key will be premature and will merely result in a forward and downward movement of its actuator without fully operating any of the punches or the escapement mechanism.

The mechanism, shown in Fig. 8, by means of which the carriage I6 is fully released to its normal position, will now be described. This operation is effected by depression of the release key and involves a control of the escapement mechanism such that the pawl 52 thereof will be disengaged from the ratchet 40 and held thus until the carriage has been moved by the motor 33 to its extreme left hand position shown in Figs. 1 and 5. This release mechanism and the skip mechanism shown in Fig. 9 and later to be described, have a common shaft 81 mounted in suitable bearings 88 carried by the front support I! and with which is associated a ball 88 also common to both mechanisms. The shaft 81 supports elements of both mechanisms but, for the sake of clarity in illustration, such elements as are involved in the operation of the'skip mechanism only are omitted from Fig. 8 and the same is true with respect to Fig. 9 as to those elements which concern only the release mechanism. The latter is shown in it operated position with the release key 63 depressed, such movement being limited by engagement of a pin 80 on the key shank 02 with the top plate SI of the key board framework. Upon depression of said key, its bell crank 85 is rocked about the supporting rod 84 and, through the link 8|, rocks the arm 82 to the position shown, against the action of the return pring 83 and about the shaft 81 on which said arm is freely mounted. The said arm is provided with a flat surface 84 that constantly engages the ball 88 so as to swing the same downwardly relative to said shaft 81 which supports said ball by means of a block :8 loose on shaftand "'1' projecting said the tension of the return spring III.

ated positions during the release movement of the carriage. As the full release position. is approached, an abutment I03 mounted on top of the skip bar 2| will contact the interposer stop I04 secured to the adjacent end of the shaft 81 and now in the path of said abutment. This contact shifts the shaft 81 linearly to the left and, in so doing, a collar I08 secure on said shaft will similarly move the block 85 and, consequently, the ball 88 to which the block is secured. The movement of the bail shifts the attached cam 81 to permit restoration of the pawl 52 by its spring 54 and said cam, in turn, moves the latch I00 to the left to offset and disengage it from the latch 88, thereby releasing said cam and/bail for their return or upward swinging movement under the influence of the spring 83 which now rocks the arm 92 about the shaft 81 in a rearward direction so that its surface 84 will produce said swinging movement. The release key is also restored by said spring 83 and the movement of said ball turns the latch I00 with itqby reason of the contact between the two elements. When the shaft 81 was shifted as described, it compressed a spring I06 (Figs. 1 and 9) coiled thereabout, and upon the next movement of Ithe carriage to the right after its release, which movement frees the abutment I03 from the stop I04, said spring becomes effective to return the shaft linearly to its normal position. In so doin a collar I01 (Fig. 9) fixed to the shaft 81 and abutting the latch I00 (Fig. 1) moves said latch and the cam 81 along said shaft to their normal positions in which said latch is again opposed to but free from the latch 88. Since the cam 81 is secured to-the ball 88, the latter will also be. restored to normal by the return of the cam, and the parts are again ready for another release operation.

The skip mechanism which enables the carriage I8 to be advanced predetermined distances upon operation of the skip key 63, will now be described. In Fig. 9, this skip mechanism is shown in its operated position wherein the downward movement of the key 83 is limited by engag ement of a pin I08 on the key with the top plate 8|. The depression of the key rocks its bell crank 65 to the position shown and, through the link I08, swings the arm IIO forwardly against Said arm IIO carries a laterally projecting pin III which engages an arm II3 secured on the adjacent end of the shaft 81 and thus the forward movement of the arm H0 and its pin II! will turn the shaft 81. Also, by virtue of a flat surface III formed on the arm I I0 and engaged with the bail 88, the latter win be swung downwardly to its operated position to actuate the cam 91 in the same manner and with the same result as described in connection with the release operation. Again, as in the latter operation, the latches 99 and I00 are interengaged and, in addition, a latch H carried by the collar I01 fixed on the shaft 01 is turnedwith the latter to interengage with a latch I" supported on the rod 04 and urged against the stop pin I0! by the spring I". The cam 91 is thus latched in its operated position by both sets of latches so as to retain the pawl 52 out or en- I0 advances. When the shaft 01 is turned, the interposer stop I04 secured thereon is swung to a position in the path of the skip stop I I8 mounted in a preselected one of the openings 22 formed in the skip bar 2|. Therefore, said stop H8 will contact the interposer I04 to stop the carengagement of thelatch I00 from the latch 90.

Also. the shifting of the shaft with the collar I01 thereon releases the latch I I5 from the latch H0.

Release of pressure upon the skip key permits the spring III to pull the link I09 and arm IIO rearwardly to complete the restoration of said key and, as said arm I I0 is thus moved, it retracts the pin H2 so that the spring H9 connected to the arm H0 will act to assist the spring III and also swing said arm rearwardly to thus reverse the turning movement of the shaft 81, thereby shifting the interposer stop I04 out of the path of the skip stop H8. When this is accomplished. the spring I00 on the shaft 0'! returns the latter linearly to its normal position to again shift the latches I00 and H5 to their opposed positions relative to the latches 99 and H6, respectively. As the shaft 81 is rotatively restored, the latch H8 is carried therewith and by reason of the engagement of its flat surface with the bail 89 the latter is also swung upwardly to its normal position. Restoration of the bail also returns the latch I00 to normal and the parts are then ready for another skip operation.

The carriage I8 is provided with a finger piece I20 for moving the same to a punching position gagemen't with the ratchet 40 while the carriage punches, an operating key for each of said controlled elements, a card carriage movable in operative relation to said punches, an escapement mechanism for said carriage having primaryand secondary movements to advance the same, means actuated by each of said keys to effect the priment and itskey from the operated punch so that the secondary movement of said escapement will be shifted to the return stroke of said punch for accomplishment thereby independently of said controlled element.

2. In a card punching machine; a plurality of punches having operative and return strokes, a plurality of keys for operating said punches and also having operative and return strokes, a cardsupporting carriage movable in cooperative relation to said punches,'means including an escapement mechanism for advancing said carriage to a succeeding punching position following each punching operation, mechanical means controlled by the return stroke of an operated punch and independently of the return stroke of the key for said punch for actuating said escapement mechanism to advance said carriage, and means to disable all said keys at the conclusion of the operative stroke of one of, them and until its return stroke is completed.

3. In a card punching machine. a plurality of punches, a selectively controlled actuator for each punch normally having operative connection therewith and having a primary rectilinear movement, means comprising said operative connection and activated by its actuator during said movement thereof for operating the associated punch, a card carriagemovable in cooperative relation to said. punches, means to advance said carriage to a succeeding punching position each time a card is punched, and means similarly to disable the operative connections of all the actuators with their respective punches after a card has been punched and for a period subsequent to the full advancement of saidfcarriage to said succeeding punching positiomf i 4. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches having operatingcand restoring movements, a selectively controlled actuator for each punch, a; card-supporting carriage movable in cooperative relation to said punches, means to progressively advance said carriage to a succeeding punching position upon each operation of one of said actuators, means to support said actuators in cooperative relation to their respective punches during the operating movement of one of said punches, and means to disassociate said supporting means from the actuators of the remaining punches during the restoring'movement of said. punch.

5. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches having operating and restoring move ments, a selectively controlled actuator for each punch, a card-supporting carriage movable in cooperative relation to said punches, means to progressively advancezsaid carriage to a succeeding'punching position upon each operation of one of said actuators, and a movable support for said actuators maintaining the same in cooperative relation with said punches during the operating movement of one of them andoperated by the actuator of the latter punch during the'restoring movement of said punch to operatively disconnect the remaining actuators from their respective punches. I

6. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, a selectively controlled actuator for each punch having primary and secondary movements. a card-supporting carriage progressively advanced to place the card thereon inpunching position relative to said punches, means to so operate said carriage, and a, support for said actuators maintaining the same in operative relation to their respective punches during the primary movement 01' one of said actuators, said support being thereafter controlled by the secondary movement of said actuator to operatively disconnect all actuators from their respective punches until said secondary movement of an actuator is completed. I

7. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches having operating and restoring strokes, a selectively controlled actuator for each punch having a linear movement in one direction during the operating stroke of its punch and a pivotal movement at the termination of said stroke, and further having a combined pivotal and linear movement in the opposite direction during the restoring stroke of said punch. a card-supporting carriage progressively advanced to place the card thereon in punching position relative to said punches,.means to so operate said carriage, a support for said actuators maintaining the same in operative relation to their respective punches until the first named linear movement of one of said actuators has been completed, said support being operated by said actuator during said combined movement thereof to disassociate all actuators from their punches until said combined movement is completed, and means thereupon operable to restore said support to its supporting position.

8. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches having operating and restoring strokes, a selectively controlled actuator normally operatively connected to each punch and having operating and return movements, a card-supporting carriage movable in cooperative relation to said punches, means to progressively advance said carriage to a succeeding punching position upon completion of each operating movement of one of said actuators, and releasable means to maintain said actuators operatively connected to their respective punches during the operating stroke of one of them, the release of saidmeans being controlled by the actuator of an operated punchduring the restoringstroke of the latter to render all actuators ineffective until the return movement of said actuator is completed.

9. In a card punching machine, a punch, an actuator therefor having operating and return strokes, and a movable supporting means to releasably maintain the actuator .operatively connected to said punch during the operating stroke of said actuator, the latter having means operable during the return stroke of said actuator to move said supporting means to an inoperative position.

10. In a card punching machine, a plurality as to render said support inoperative until the last named operation of said actuator is completed.

12. In a card punching machine, a punching mechanism having a normal position, key-operated actuators each controlling an element of said punching mechanism, and means directly operated by each of said actuators, following the punching of a card by its associated punching element and before complete restoration of said punching mechanismto normal, to render ineffective all other actuators.

13. In a card punching machine, a punching mechanism having a normal position, key-operated actuators each operable to control an element of said punching mechanism and each having a normal position, and a pivoted support for said actuators moved from a normal supporting position by the operation of one of said actuators, following the punching of a card, to render ineffective all said actuators until said operated actuator andits key have restored to normal, and means to so restore said actuator and key.

14. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches having operating and restoring strokes, a selectively controlled actuator for each punch having one movement during the operating stroke of its punch and a different movement after the termination of said operating stroke, and a support for said actuator operable during the first named movement to maintain said actuators in operative association with their respective punches while apunch is making its operating stroke, each actuator having mean operable during and until the termination of said different movement to remove'said support from its operative position.

15. In a card punching machine, a plurality of. punches having operating strokes, an actuator associated with each punch, a movable support maintaining all said actuators operatively connected to. their respective punches, means controlled by each actuator for producing an operating stroke of its associated punch, and means forming a part of each actuator for eng gin Said support at the termination of said operating stroke to move said support to an inoperative position.

l6..In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, key controlled actuators therefor each having a normal position and an operating movement, means directly responsive to said moveof punches, an actuator for each of them having operating and return strokes, a carriage movable to an advanced position relative to said punches each time one of said actuators is operated, and a common support for said actuators relative to which the latter move during. the operating strokes thereof, each actuator'contacting. said support during said return stroke to'shift said support to an inoperative position until said.

a common support for said actuators eifectivef during said punching operation to-maintain said actuators in operative association with their respective punches, and means to operate said associated actuator after its pivotal movement so ment of aniactuator for operating one of said punches, and means also responsive to said movement to thereafter similarly disable all actuators and maintain them in disabled condition until the operated actuator-has returned to normal.

17. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, operating mechanism therefor comprising a plunger for each punch, a rocker arm supporting said plunger in operative relation to its Punch, a sliding trip element for said arm, and an actuator having a. cam surface engageable with a portion of said trip element to slide the same for rocking said arm when said actuator is operated.

18. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, a movable card-supporting carriage cooperating with said punches and operable to progressively advance a card preliminary to a punching operation, operating mechanism for said punches 'rcompris'ing a plunger for each punch. a rocker arm supporting said plunger in operative relation to its punch, actuators for said punches extending transversely to the direction of movewith said punches and operable to progressively advance a cardpreliminary to a punching operation, operating mechanism for said punches comprising a plunger for each punch, a rocker arm supporting said plunger in operative relation merit of said carriage and each operable to rock to its punch, actuators for said punche each operable to rock one of said arms to depress its plunger, a movable support for said actuators maintaining the same in operative relation to said rocker arms during the operating stroke of a punch, and means forming a part of each actuator operable at the termination of said operating stroke to move said support to an inoperative position.

20. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches. an actuator for each punch having a primary rectilinear operating movement and a secondary gravitational movement to an inoperative position, means operatively connecting each actuator to its punch during said primary movement, and means controlled by each actuator during its secondary movement to similarly render inoperative the connecting means of all said actuators.

21. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, an actuator for each punch having primary and secondary movements and provided thereon with a cam surface. means to effect the primary movement of an actuator, means responsive to said actuator during its primary movement for operating its punch to perforate a card. and means controlled by said cam surface durin the secondary movement of said actuator to render ineffective all said actuators.

22. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, an actuator for each punch having primary and secondary movements and provided thereon with a cam surface. means to effect the primary movement 01' an actuator, means responsive to said actuator during its primary movement for operating its punch to perforate a card. a movable support for said actuators maintaining the same in operative association with said responsive means during the primary movement of one of said actuators, and means to produce the secondary movement of said actuator, the cam surface of the latter moving said support,

in the initial stage of said secondary movement,

to a position wherein said responsive means is operatively disconnected from all said actuators.

sponsive to said actuator during its primary movement for operating its punch to perforate a card, a carriage for said card'inovable to-a succeeding punching position upon each operationof an actuator, an escapement for said carriage controlled by said responsive means, and means controlled by said cam surface in the initial stage of the secondary movement of said actuator to prevent operation of another punch until said secondary movement is completed.

25. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, actuators therefor having primary and secondary movements, means responsive to the primary movement of an actuator for operating one of said punches to perforate a card, restoring means for said punch initiating the secondary movement of said actuator, and means directly perated by said secondary movement for preventing operation of another punch until completion of the latter movement.

26. In a card punchingmachine, a plurality of punches, an actuator for each punch having a 'normal position and primary and secondary movements and provided thereon with a cam surface, means to effect the primary movement of an actuator, means responsive to said actuator during its primary movement for operating its punch to perforate a card, a carriage for said card movable to a succeeding punching position upon each operation of an actuator, an escapement for said carriage controlled by said responsive means, a movable support for said actuators maintaining the same in operative association with said responsive means during said primary movement, said support being moved by the cam surface of said actuator during the initial stage of the secondary movement thereof to operatively disconnect all other actuators from their respective punches until said carriage has reached a succeeding punching position and said actuator has restored to normal, and means to complete the secondary movement of said actuator and restore it to normal.

27. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, a carriage movable relative to said punches to progressively advance a card to various punching positions, a key board ofiset'laterally to one side of said carriage and comprising.

a plurality of keys, an actuator operated by each key for movements transverse to that of said carriage, a plunger for operating each punch, and a rocker arm for each plunger operated by one of said actuators.

23. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, an'actuator for each punch having primary and secondary movements, means to effect the primary movement of an actuator, means responsive to said actuator during its primary movement for operating its punch to perforate a card, a carriage for said card movable to a succeeding punching position upon each operation of an actuator, an escapement for said carriage controlled by said responsive means, and means directly operated by said secondary movement of said actuatorto prevent operation of another punch until said secondary movement is com- Dieted.

24. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, an actuator for each punch having primary and secondary movements and provided thereon with a cam surface, means to effect the primary movement of an actuator, means reous punching positions, an escapement for ad vancing said carriage each time a card is punch a key board offset laterally to one side of said carriage and comprising a plurality of keys, an actuator operated by each key for movements transverse to that of said carriage, and means controlled by the operation of each actuator after a, card has been punched to render inefiective all other actuators until an operated key is restored to normal.

29. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, a carriage movable relative to said punches to progressively advance a card to van ous punching positions, an escapement for advancing said carriage, a, key board oilset laterally to one side of said carriage and comprising a pluraiity of keys, an actuator operated by each key ous punching positions,- an escapement for advancing said carriage, a key board offset laterally to one side of said carriage and comprising a plurality of keys, an actuator operated by each key for movements transverse to that of said carriage, a plunger for operating each punch and for controlling said escapement, a rocker arm for each plunger operated by one of said actuators,

and a movable support for said actuators under the control of each of them to render all other actuators ineffective until anoperated key is restored to normal. 31. In a card punching machine, a punch, an actuator for said punch operable from a normal position through primary and secondary movements, means to effect primary movement of said actuator to operate said punch, a support maintaining operative connection between said punch and said actuator during the primary movement of the latter and operated by said actuator during its secondary movement to prevent another operation of said punch until said actuator returns to normal position, and punch restoring means controlling a part of said secondary movement of said actuator.

32. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, actuators for said punches, keys for operating said actuators, means operatively conmeeting said actuators to said punches, and means to releasably retain said actuators in cooperative relation to said connecting means until a card has been punched by the operation of one actuator, said retaining means being thereupon released by said actuator to prevent operation of a punch byanother actuator until the key of the first named actuator is restored.

33. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches having operating and restoring strokes, an actuator for each punc'h having primary and secondary movements, a key for operating each actuator through its primary movement to effect the operating stroke of its associated punch, restoring means for said punch operable to control a portion of the secondary movement of said actuator, means to complete said secondary movement, and means influenced by said secondary movement to render ineffective all said actuators until the restoring stroke of said punch has completely withdrawn it from a card and an operated key has been restored.

34. In combination, a plurality of actuators having primary and secondary movements, means to efiect said primary movements, a record supporting carriage, means responsive to said primary movements for creating identifying indicia on the record supported by said carriage,

means to advance said carriage upon each oper-,..

36. In combination, a plurality of actuators having primary and secondary movements, means to effect said primary movements, other means to effect said secondary movements, actuator-responsive means operated by the primary movement of one of said actuators, and a movable support for said actuators effective during said primary movement to maintain all actuators tin cooperative relation to said responsive means and moved to a non-supporting position by the secondary movement of said actuator so as to render all said actuators ineffective until said secondary movement is completed.

37. In combination, a plurality of actuators each having a primary and a secondary movement, means to effect said'primary movement, other means to effect said secondary movement, actuator-responsive means operated b the primary movement of one of said actuators, and means controlled by the secondary movement of said actuator to disable all said actuators until said secondary movement is completed.

38. ha card punching machine, a plurality of punches, a carriage movable to position a card relative to said punches, an escapement mechanism for controlling the movement of said carriage, releasing means for said mechanism operable to effect the complete release of said carriage, said releasing means including a shaft, a bail supported by and movable relative to said shaft during a release operation, means carried by said bail to release said escapement mechanism when the ball is moved, means to retain the bail in its operated position until the carriage is fully released, means thereupon operable to disable said retaining means, andmeans to then restore said bail and said escapement mechanism.

39. In a card punching machine, aplurality of punches, a carriage movable to position a card relative to said punches, an escapement mechanism for controlling the movement of said carriage, releasing means for said mechanism operable to effect the complete release of said carriage, said releasing means including a shaft having linear movements, a bail supported by said shaft and having rotative movements relative thereto during a release operation, means carried by said ball to release said escapement mechanism when the bail is moved, means to retain the bail in its operated position until said carriage is fully released, means thereupon operable to move said shaft linearly to disable said retaining means, and means to thenrestore said bail, shaft and escapement mechanism to their original positions.

40. In a card punching mechanism, a plurality of punches, a carriage movable to position acard relative to said punches, an escapement mechanism for controlling the movement of said carriage, releasing means for said mechanism operable to eflfect the complete release of said carriage, said releasing means including a shaft having linear movements, a bail supported by said shaft and having rotative movements relative thereto during a release operation, means carried by said ball to release said escapement mechanism when the ball is moved, co-

operating latching elements one of which is mounted on said shaft and actuated by the movement of said bail to operatively engage the other latching element so as to retain said ball in its operated position until said carriage is fully released, means thereupon operable to move said shaft linearly to disable said latching elements, and means to then restore said bail, shaft'and escapement mechanism to their original positions.

41. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, a carriage movable to position acard relative to said punches, an escapement mechanism for controlling the movement of said carriage, a card-field skipping mechanism for said iii carriage including a skip stop movable with said carriage, a shaft having rotative and linear movements, means controlled by the rotative movement of said shaft for releasing said escapement mechanism, means responsive to the rotation of said shaft to retain said escapement releasing means in its releasing position until said carriage has moved a predetermined distance, and an interposer stop moved by the rotation of said shaft into'the path of said skip stop and operated by engagement of the latter therewith when the carriage has moved said distance to shift said shaft linearly to thereby render said retaining means ineffective.

42. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, a carriage movable to position a able with said shaft during a skipping operation, means carried by said ball to release said escapement mechanism when said shaft is rotated, means responsive to the rotation of said shaft to retain said escapement releasing means in its releasing position until said carriage has moved a predetermined distance, and an interposer stop moved by the rotation of said shaft.

into the path of said skip stop and operated by engagement of the latter therewith when the carriage has moved said distance to shift said shaft linearly to thereby render said retaining means ineilfective.

43. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, a carriage movable to position a card relative to said punches, an escapement mechanism for controlling the movement of said carriage, a card-field skipping mechanism for said carriage including a skip stop movable with said carriage, a shaft having rotative and linear movements, means controlled by the rotative movement of said shaft for releasing said eseapement mechanism, cooperating latch elements controlled by the rotation of said shaft to retain said escapement releasing means in its releasing position until said carriage has moved a. predetermined distance, and an interposer stop carried by said shaft and moved thereby into the path of said skip stop and operated by engagement of the latter therewith to move said shaft linearly to thereby render said latch elements ineffective.

44. Means to release the escapement-controlled carriage of a card punching machine comprising,

' in combination, a member movable from a normal position, means operated by the movement of said member to release the carriage escapement, cooperating latching elements for said movable member made operative by movement of the latter until release-of said carriage is accomplished, means thereupon operable to disable said latching elements, and means to then restore said movable member toits normal position.

45. Means to release the escapement-con trolled carriage of a card punching machine comprising, in combination, a shaft having a linear movement, means supported by said shaft and having rotative movement relative thereto to release said escapement, means to retain said releasing means in operated position during a predetermined releasing movement of said carriage, and means operable at the conclusion of said releasing movement to shift said shaft linearly to disable said retaining means.

46. Means to release the escapement-controlled carriage of a card punching machine comprisin in combination, a shaft having a linear movement, means having rotative movement relative to said shaft to release said escapement, cocper ating latching elements made operative by the rotative movement of said releasing means to retain the latter in operated position during a predetermined releasing movement of said carriage, and means operable at the conclusion of said movement to shift said shaft linearly to disable said latching means.

47. Means to release the escapenient-controlled carriage of a card punching machine comprising, in combination, a shaft having ro-- tative and linear movements, means controlled by the rotative movement of said shaft for releasing said escapement, means to retain said escapement in released position, and means ,operable at the conclusion of a predetermined re-= leasing movement of said carriage to move said shaft linearly and thereby disable said retaining means.

48. Means, to release the escapement-controlled carriage of a card punching machine comprising, in combination, a shaft having rotative and linear movements, means controlled by the rotative movement of said shaft for releasing said escapement, means also controlled by the rotative movement of said shaft to retain said escapement in released position, and means operable at the conclusion of a predetermined releasing movement of said carriage to move said shaft linearly and thereby disable said retaining means.

49. In a card punching machine, a plurality of punches, an actuator for each punch having primary and secondary movements, means operatively connecting each actuator to its punch during said primary movement; and means di- 

